Government should reject proposal to profit from pokies

The Government should reject
attempts by the hospitality industry to profit from pokie
machines as it would create a perverse incentive for bar
owners to encourage problem gambling, the Green Party said
today.

Hospitality New Zealand has released its plan
to lobby for a change in gambling law to allow its members
to take a 16 per cent profit off pokie machines and remove
the requirement that 37 per cent of takings be returned to
community groups.

“Currently pub and restaurant
owners who don’t own pokie machines are allowed to be
compensated for any expenses incurred by hosting them, but
they can’t make a profit off them,” Green Party gambling
spokesperson Denise Roche said.

“But if hosts were
allowed to make a commission on the machine’s proceeds,
they would be incentivised to encourage more gambling, much
of which is likely to be come from problem gamblers.

“I am also concerned by the suggestion that the current
requirement for 37.12 per cent to be distributed back to the
community be scrapped in favour of a cap on society
expenditure.

“This seems to suggest that community
groups would be given what’s left over, if anything, once
the pub owner, and gaming trust have clipped the ticket,
when the Gambling Act is really clear that the purpose of
this type of gambling is to create funds for community
organisations.

“Pokies are the most dangerous form
of gambling around. We need strong law, that’s’
effectively monitored, to keep people safe from the effects
of problem gambling.

“The Green Party rejects any
move that would weaken gambling law, whether that’s
incentivising pub owners to encourage more gambling, or
changing the law so SkyCity can have more pokie machines in
exchange for a convention centre for Auckland,” Ms Roche
said.

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